The Continuing Work of Jesus

Continuing Work of Jesus 1. What is Jesus accomplishing? He is rescuing people from sin and reconciling them to God He is forming a redeemed community of God’s people from every nation beginning with Israel

Continuing Work of Jesus 2. How is He accomplishing this? by the Spirit-empowered proclamation of the message about Jesus at times this proclamation was accompanied by miraculous signs by the Apostles (e.g. Acts 3)

17 “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. 18 But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21 whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. Acts 3:17-26

22 Moses said, ‘T HE L ORD G OD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN ; TO H IM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you. 23 And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. 25 It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘A ND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’ 26 For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

Peter’s Proclamation Application involves a radical reorientation of life, turning to God for reconciliation and forgiveness implies that they were presently estranged from God and at enmity with Him 1. Call to repentance

Peter’s Proclamation Application that your sins may be wiped away that times of refreshment may come that you may participate in the restoration of all things at the coming of Jesus Messiah 2. Promise of salvation-blessing

Peter’s Proclamation Application Jesus is the prophet like Moses who brings the final, authoritative revelation of God Jesus is the final Davidic king who reigns forever of whom all the prophets spoke Jesus is the seed of Abraham in whom all nations will be blessed, beginning with Israel 3. Fulfillment of Scripture

As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. (Acts 4:1-4 )

Peter’s Proclamation Outcome the gospel message is not neutral – it either wins converts or produces opposition opposition and persecution will not hinder gospel growth but often promote it  Hostility and Belief